2012 Olympics: Swimming

Now 17 Americans have won swimming gold so far and there is a very good chance to add at least 5 more (men’s 400 MR) and maybe 4 more in the women’s relay. Nathan Adrian, Alyssa Anderson, Ricky Berens, Tyler Clary, Conor Dwyer, Missy Franklin(2), Matthew Grevers, Charlie Houchin, Ryan Lochte(2), Matthew McLean, Lauren Perdue, Michael Phelps (2), Allison Schmitt (2), Rebecca Soni, Davis Tarwater, Dana Vollmer (2), Shannon Vreeland This is interesting and always brings up debate because old timers didn't have as many events and they did not get credit for prelim swimmers swimming in relays. The 1948 Men's Olympic team won every gold medal in the Men's events. The problem is there were only 6 Men's events. The Men's 1976 Olympic team won every event except the 200 *** and won both Men's Relays but again they had one less relay (400 Free Relay) and they had one less event (200 IM) plus there swimmers did not get credit for swimming the prelims in the relay and that would be many swimmers since the USA won the both Men's relays and the Women won the only event of those Olympics in the 400 Free Relay and had one swimmer in the prelims that did not swim in the finals. Both the Men's 400 Medley and 800 Free Relays had 5 swimmers that did not get gold medals in other events and swam prelims only in the relay and were not awarded medals. The awarding of medals for prelim swimmers in relays started in 1984, so that should be the starting point of comparison today. That was a boycotted Olympics so the USA would have more medals than other Olympics for that reason. They did not have a 50 Free event for both Men & Women and there was no Women's 800 Free relay. With that being said that team had 31 total swimmers receive 49 Gold Medals. The breakdown for the 1984 team is 13 Women winning 23 Gold medals and 18 Men winning 26 Gold Medals for the total of 49. That team won all 5 relays that were offered at that time and no swimmer won more than 3 gold medals and there were 6 swimmers that accomplished that. The only other Olympic team that comes close to the 1984 Olympic team in the 1996 team that competed in Atlanta. Both of those teams were at home and that has to be some advantage. The 1996 team was in a non boycott Olympics but compared to 1984 had one extra event (50 Free) and had the Women's 800 Free Relay which was making its first appearance at an Olympics. This was the only Olympics where the USA team won all 6 relays and that has not been done since. With that being said, that is going to help the gold medal total because of all those relays. The 1996 team had 31 swimmers win 45 gold medals. The breakdown for the 1996 team is 15 Women winning 23 Gold medals and 16 Men winning 22 Gold Medals for the total of 45. Amy Van Dyken won 4 Gold Medals and Jenny Thompson and Josh Davis won 3 Gold Medals and both swimmers received them in all 3 relays. So the 2012 team has its work cut out for them to get to 31 swimmers and between 45 and 49 Gold Medals.

Now 17 Americans have won swimming gold so far and there is a very good chance to add at least 5 more (men’s 400 MR) and maybe 4 more in the women’s relay. Nathan Adrian, Alyssa Anderson, Ricky Berens, Tyler Clary, Conor Dwyer, Missy Franklin(2), Matthew Grevers, Charlie Houchin, Ryan Lochte(2), Matthew McLean, Lauren Perdue, Michael Phelps (2), Allison Schmitt (2), Rebecca Soni, Davis Tarwater, Dana Vollmer (2), Shannon Vreeland This is interesting and always brings up debate because old timers didn't have as many events and they did not get credit for prelim swimmers swimming in relays. The 1948 Men's Olympic team won every gold medal in the Men's events. The problem is there were only 6 Men's events. The Men's 1976 Olympic team won every event except the 200 *** and won both Men's Relays but again they had one less relay (400 Free Relay) and they had one less event (200 IM) plus there swimmers did not get credit for swimming the prelims in the relay and that would be many swimmers since the USA won the both Men's relays and the Women won the only event of those Olympics in the 400 Free Relay and had one swimmer in the prelims that did not swim in the finals. Both the Men's 400 Medley and 800 Free Relays had 5 swimmers that did not get gold medals in other events and swam prelims only in the relay and were not awarded medals. The awarding of medals for prelim swimmers in relays started in 1984, so that should be the starting point of comparison today. That was a boycotted Olympics so the USA would have more medals than other Olympics for that reason. They did not have a 50 Free event for both Men & Women and there was no Women's 800 Free relay. With that being said that team had 31 total swimmers receive 49 Gold Medals. The breakdown for the 1984 team is 13 Women winning 23 Gold medals and 18 Men winning 26 Gold Medals for the total of 49. That team won all 5 relays that were offered at that time and no swimmer won more than 3 gold medals and there were 6 swimmers that accomplished that. The only other Olympic team that comes close to the 1984 Olympic team in the 1996 team that competed in Atlanta. Both of those teams were at home and that has to be some advantage. The 1996 team was in a non boycott Olympics but compared to 1984 had one extra event (50 Free) and had the Women's 800 Free Relay which was making its first appearance at an Olympics. This was the only Olympics where the USA team won all 6 relays and that has not been done since. With that being said, that is going to help the gold medal total because of all those relays. The 1996 team had 31 swimmers win 45 gold medals. The breakdown for the 1996 team is 15 Women winning 23 Gold medals and 16 Men winning 22 Gold Medals for the total of 45. Amy Van Dyken won 4 Gold Medals and Jenny Thompson and Josh Davis won 3 Gold Medals and both swimmers received them in all 3 relays. So the 2012 team has its work cut out for them to get to 31 swimmers and between 45 and 49 Gold Medals.